Education at Saint Louis University

Saint Louis University's education program delivers reasonable outcomes for Missouri, though they're middling on a national scale. Graduates here earn about $4,000 more annually than the typical Missouri education graduate—placing this program in the 60th percentile statewide—but still fall short of the $38,660 national benchmark. The $27,000 debt load is actually lower than both state and national averages, creating a manageable 0.74 debt-to-earnings ratio that most graduates should be able to handle on a teacher's salary.

The real question is whether the higher tuition at a private university (only 15% of students receive Pell grants, suggesting a wealthier student body) makes sense when Missouri's public options produce similar outcomes. You'll find comparable earnings at Webster University and Missouri Southern, likely at lower cost. The 11% earnings growth over four years is modest but typical for education, where salaries increase with experience and additional credentials rather than dramatic early-career jumps.

One important caveat: this data comes from fewer than 30 graduates, so individual circumstances can swing these numbers significantly. If your child is passionate about SLU's specific approach to teacher preparation or values the Jesuit educational philosophy, this isn't an unreasonable choice—just understand you're paying private school prices for outcomes that mirror what Missouri's public universities deliver.